Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/317

 Chap. 8.] ACCOUNT OF COUNTEIES, ETC. 283 CHAP. 8. — LACONIA. At Taenarum begins the territory of Laconia, inhabited by a free nation, and situate on a gulf 106 miles in circuit, and 38 across. The towns are, Taenarum Amyclae^', Pherae' and Leuctra'* ; and, in the interior, Sparta^, Theramne^, and the spots where Cardamyle', Pitane*, and Anthea formerly stood ; the former site of Thyrea^, and Gerania^*^. Here is also Mount Taygetus^ the river Eurotas, the Gulf of JEgi- lodes^^, the town of Psamathus, the Gulf of Gytheum^^, so called from the town of that name, from which place the passage is the safest across to the island of Crete. All these places are bounded by the Promontory of Malea". Kisternes, or Kimaros, occupies its site. 2 Its site is generally placed at Sklavokhori, six miles from Sparta ; but Leake supposes it to liave been situate on the liill called Agliia Kyriaki, between that place and Sparta. ^ Or Pharis. The present Chitries occupies its site. not be confounded with the town in Boeotia where the Thebans defeated the Spartans, B.C. 371. ^ Or Lacedaemon. Its site is occupied by the modern villages of Magula and Psykhiko. The principal modern town in the vicinity is Mistra. ^ Or Therapnae, on the left bank of the Eurotas. Some ruins of it are stiU to be seen. ' Considerable ruins of it are stUl to be seen to the N.E. of the modern towTi of Skarhamula. ^ Authors are not agreed as to the site of this town and that of Anthea or Anthene. 9 Memorable for the pitched battle between 300 Argives and 300 Spartans, — Otlnrades being the sole survivor of the Spartans, and AJcenor and Chromius of the Argives. ^^ By Homer called Enope. " Pente Dactylon, or Pente Dactyh, the "Five Fingers," is the pre- sent name of the range of Taygetus, Its principal summits are now St. Elias and Paixamadlii. The river Eurotas is now called Iris and Niris in its upper and middle course, and Basih-potamo from the Spartan plain to the sea. ^'- ^gila, according to Leake, occupied the site of the present Scutari; if 80, this gulf was probably the Gulf of Scutari. Psamathus was near the point of Tsenarum. 13 Or Gythium, near the mouth of the Eurotas. It was famous for its cheeses. The rums are called PaleopoH, a little to the north of Mara- thonisL ^^ Now Capo Santo Angelo.
 * Or Tsenarus, afterwards called Csenopolis. The present town of
 * Or Leuctrum, on the river Pamisus, now called Levtros. It must